Taira Kiyomori

Taira Kiyomori (1118-) was the daimyo of the Fukuhara Taira from 1153 until his death. He established the first samurai-controlled government by overthrowing the Fujiwara regency and placing himself in the position of regent.

Biography
After the death of his father Taira Tadamori in 1153, he became the new daimyo of the Fukuhara Taira branch of the Taira clan. He was an ally of the Minamoto at first, aiding Minamoto Yoshitomo in defeating Fujiwara Yorinaga and Minamoto Tameyoshi's uprising in the Hogen Rebellion of 1156. But his strength increased after the war, and as he threatened to take control of the Heian Empire, he faced a rebellion by Yoshitomo in turn in the Heiji Rebellion of 1159, but he defeated the rebels. He mercifully exiled Minamoto Yoritomo and his brothers Noriyori and Yoshitsune to different parts of Japan, and in 1167 he was appointed the Chief Minister of the Government.

In 1171 Kiyomori, effectively the ruler of Japan, married Emperor Takakura to his daughter Taira Tokuko and in 1179 took over the rest of the government in a coup. With Emperor Antoku, only two years old, as the ruler of all Japan, Kiyomori was regent and placed family members in government offices. This controversy sparked the Gempei Wars, in which his rule was challenged by the Minamoto and their branches. From 1180 until the final defeat of the Taira and others in 1209, the Minamoto stamped their control over Japan. He was defeated many times and many of his provinces conquered by the Kamakura Minamoto clan.